A work in progress

Scrap Africa - a brand new challenge blog.

2012-01-25T10:07:00.000+02:00

A brand new South African challenge blog was just launched. I am honoured to be part of the first design team.

Go to Scrap Africa to see the latest challenge and the beautiful work done by the Guest Designers and the Design Team.

Here is Sketch #1

...and my layout based on this sketch.

Supplies used: Printed papers: MME Fine and Dandy; Cardstock: Bazzill; Brads and Stickers: MME Fine and Dandy; Rub ons: Daisy D; Other: Felt and DMC Cotton.

I hope to see you playing along for a prize.

The Final goodbye

2012-01-20T09:03:00.002+02:00

I did this layout shortly after my parents 50th anniversary. That is how I want to remember my dad...still so strong and often so difficult. We didn't have a good relationship as I grew up. My dad had a difficult childhood and suffered the most terrible rejection. He never knew how to love and accept love. Only after I grew in my relationship with the Lord I was able to forgive unconditionally and accept him just the way he was. The past few years I wanted to cover him with love, so that he will know what love really is. He was successful in his career working on the sea as a Chief Engineer on a ship. He left a legacy of a loving wife of 54 years, six successful children, 20 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

His past six weeks since he was diagnosed with lung cancer were difficult, each breath was a struggle and he was permanently on oxygen. I am thankful that he still found the strength to travel to Port Elizabeth and be part of the family Christmas celebration. It was sad to see how frustrated he became...he had such a brilliant mind, and he just could not cope with his declining body.

My dad passed away on Tuesday. I am thankful that the hospital phoned and urged us to come quickly. Seeing him struggle for his breath was so difficult that my mom just broke down and after consoling her I had to quickly leave the room just to draw myself together again. I am thankful for the few minutes I spent alone with him on Sunday holding his hand...when he told me he didn't want to go on, it wasn't worth while. I am thankful that he knew we were there. I am thankful for compassionate staff that gave him the right medication to ease his struggle. He fell asleep shortly after we got there, went into a coma and passed away at 3:20 on Tuesday afternoon.

The family is gathering in Kidds Beach today. Tonight we will have a feast to celebrate his life. Tomorrow the memorial service will be in Kidds Beach, because this is what he wanted...this was the place that he had his happiest years. We will all be dressed in bright clothes...because he always said that nobody must wear black at his funeral.

Just another reason to EMBRACE everything on this journey of life.

xx

Blog you heart - January

2012-01-16T08:58:00.000+02:00

With all the craziness of December, I didn't do this monthly post:-) So here goes...

I will be becoming two little grandsons richer during the first part of this year. Lache found out a week ago that she is also expecting a baby boy. Bianca's baby will be born towards the end of March and Lache's towards the end of June. I am truly blessed to have all my children living in the same town and seeing them and my precious grandchildren on a regular basis.
I am doing the "Scrapbook Life Journal 2012" with Stephanie Ackerman. I am loving the process and just defining who I am and what my purpose in life is. This is going to be a journey of growth...spiritually and personally... and that is always good.
I am excited to try new avenues of art this year and have enrolled in two mixed media classes...I will show you how it goes as this new journey begins.
I am blogging from my parent's home in Kidd's Beach near East Londen. My dad decided yesterday that life is just no longer worthwhile and refused to use the oxygen he had become dependent on. He was admitted to hospital, where they can't really do much for him either, other than force him to use the oxygen and monitoring him. Yesterday when I held his hand and he said to me he had enough...I understood and I felt so helpless. Other than make him as comfortable as possible there is nothing that I can do. I am thankful that I could be here within a couple of hours when my mother needed me.

Will update on my creative journey when I get back home.

My December in a nutshell.

2012-01-11T13:44:00.002+02:00

My December started on a sad note when my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer and the prognosis is only a few months. I returned home to find that my son, Wynand and his family have moved to their own home. This gave us the time to make a few drastic changes to our home. We started white washing our knotty pine ceilings and painting some very dark face brick walls in our home to open up and bring light into the house.

We also trashed the old entrance to our house that had awful dated mirrors and a plant box...and replaced it with a beautiful modern focal point.

I have such a clever DH...he can do anything he sets his mind too and we saved a lot of money because he did most of the work, with me as his helper;-) We ended up painting the whole house inside with a lovely Velddrif colour that blended in beautifully with our furniture and decor. I will do a full photo post on the revamp soon.

On the 4th of December we had our Cell group Christmas party in one of our members wine cellar.

We had loads of laughter and way too much food around this beautifully decorated table.

During December we had two weddings at the Mission and a number of Christmas parties (You can read more about that on our blog)

On the 10th of December our little ones had their Christmas party at their playschool.

Aren't they just too gorgeous. I will do a full photo post on this soon.

On 19 December Kobus Jr and Lache remarried. It was a quiet ceremony held in the church her uncle pastors. Only the parents and the two little ones were there to look on.

Tying the knot and saying the "I do's".

"Princess" Leane looking on.

Little Dewan...looking oh so cute.

During all of this we were feverishly working to get the house neat and tidy before our guests...my brother, sister-in-law, children and my parents arrive for Christmas. Here DH places the final tile in the entrance hall a couple of days before Christmas.

I am totally thrilled with how my house looks now. It was such fun to choose tiles, new light fittings and decide again where each painting must be hung...but more on that in a later post.

Needless to say, with all this work our tree only went up on the 23rd of December. This photo is compliments of little Lukas...but you can get a great idea of how my ceilings are looking now.

On Christmas Eve, DH donned the suit and played Santa....the first time we do this with the kiddies. They loved it...shouting up the chimney for Santa to come...and NO they weren't fooled for one minute. They excepted their gifts from Santa saying "Thank you Oupa.";-) (further photo post will follow)

Christmas Day we had all the children and grandchildren around our table. My brother had brought my parents down from Kidds Beach and it was such an awesome privilege to have my parents here.

My dad is very thin, weak and frail. He is now permanently on Vital air (oxygen machine). It is sad knowing that this will be our last Christmas with him.

On 27 December we took my parents back to their home. Kobus, Lache and the kids decided to join us and we stayed over at Palm Springs Resort in Kidd's Beach for the evening.

The next morning we went for a walk on the beach.

Then we had breakfast and went to my parents for a last goodbye.

My dad is getting weaker by the day. He has fallen a few times and is now walking with a walker. He sleeps on a recliner at night as he cannot breathe while sleeping on a bed. At this stage we can only make him as comfortable as possible and make sure that he has everything that will make his life easier.

Talk again soon.

The creative side of things

2012-01-07T15:55:00.001+02:00

I told you in a previous post that I have enrolled for a "Scrapbook Life Journal" course with Stephanie Ackerman. We also had to create a binder or journal for this process. Here is the cover of my journal. It is a 9x9 inch Bo Bunny mini album.

As you can see I used my word for 2012....Embrace...as a title for my journal. This month we are looking at "being honest" with ourselves.

So I looked again at what defines me...the obvious...woman, wife, mother, grandmother etc. Then I also looked a bit deeper. Lately I have been getting in trouble for being what I thought of as a "peacemaker" between my children...instead of getting peace I was accused of taking sides. I am pretty sure that was the reason for my blues last month. Now looking in, I realise that this is something I have to lay down. If my loved ones want to bear grudges and choose not to get along, I am not going to get into the middle of it again. If they mess up...they have to fix it themselves. I realise that I can NOT fix relationships.

What I enjoy most about taking this course is that Stephanie is a child of God and that inspires me. I love this quote by Tad Williams: "We tell lies when we are afraid. Afraid of what we don't know, afraid of what others will think, afraid of what will be found out about us. But every time we tell a lie, the thing that we fear grows stronger. The doodle above was our January doodle that I covered and added to my journal. Here is my page on "Who I Am".

I want to explore my artistic side this year and I have always admired mixed media work. This morning I signed up for this course by Christy Tomlinson and Junelle Jacobson that starts 12 March 2012.

I can't wait to get a supply list and go browsing the art shops for the supplies...I hope this doesn't become another addiction.

Then lastly my new term with Sketch Support started this month. The card sketch for January by Allison Davis looks like this:

Card Sketch #15

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the card sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar. I decided to make a layout based on the sketch.

"Snow Angel"
Supply list - Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Papers: Echo Park (Wintertime), Fancy Pants (Hot Chocolate); Letters: Echo Park (Wintertime); Chipboard snowflakes: Dusty Attic;Punches: Upikit; Other: DMC Thread

Variation #1: I adjusted the sizes to suit a 5x7 photo layout.
Variation #2: I used a border diecut on the strips above the largest printed papers.

Variation #3: I painted and glittered the chipboard snowflakes.

Are you going to be trying something new and exciting this year? Tell me about it.
xx

My word for 2012

2012-01-02T16:11:00.002+02:00

I believe that this word chose me this year.

I want to embrace my life in 2012.
Everything about my life...the happy and the sad.

I want to embrace the time spent with family.
We don't know how long we will have them.

I want to embrace what is important to me.

My relationship with the Lord, my husband, my children and grandchildren and my calling.

Our dreams and our hopes for our future together.

I want to embrace my own unique talents.
I want to explore my creativity and try new forms of art.

I want to embrace all of life's moments.
I want to live in the moment and not let life pass me by.

I started a "Scrapbook Life Journal" class with Stephanie Ackerman this year. The word for January is:

The Journal prompt is: "The most important person to be honest with is yourself."

The Scripture is: "You're blessed when you're content with who you are...no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought". Matthew 5:5. (the Message version of the Bible.)

I want to embrace this journey that I am going to be on this year.

There is going to be soul searching, laying things down and growing.

What is your word this year?

Looking Back...

2011-12-31T09:22:00.001+02:00

Tick, tock, tick, tock.

2011 is nearly over.

Tomorrow is the start of a brand new year!

Starting over...starting new.

On this last day of 2011 I want to look back on the last two years...and what it has brought. These past two years have been difficult but still not without joy. I know that we have grown through the process. There has been good times, bad times, sad times and times of indescribable joy.

In the past two years we have seen our oldest son get divorced and we were all devastated...but all our feelings turned into joy when there was reconciliation and this month the two of them remarried. I can see how much both of them have grown and matured through this whole process. I witnessed this new love and respect for each other. The joy of the little ones having their parents back together.

We have seen our second son lose his eye sight and lived through the trauma of having a sword over his head...a condition that is inoperable....and then we watched in amazement as the Lord restored his sight. Our hope is in Him alone.

Our daughter ran away from home and again our lives shattered. Eighteen months later she returned and I truly have my daughter back. Gone is the rebellion, darkness and hatred. In the past months she has gone for counselling and I see how the light has come in her life...and again I am reminded that the Lord hears the prayers of parents for their children.

My life has come full circle. My family is whole again. I am ready for this new year and I am excited about what it holds for us as a family.

Sketch Support December sketches

2011-12-30T18:59:00.001+02:00

With everything that was going on around here I have never updated on the Sketch Support projects that I made this year so here goes:

Two-page Sketch #23

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the two-page sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of the Sketch Support blog.

Here is my take on it:

"Christmas Memories" by Lynette Jacobs
Supply list - Background: Embossed Bazzill; Printed papers: Fancy Pants (Traditions);Stars: Fabscraps; Glitter: Melissa Francis; Title: Enmarc; Brad: Making Memories;Leaves: Making Memories; Flower: Maya Road; Punch: Martha Stewart.

Variation #1: I punched the scallop and the narrow strips.

Variation #2: I doodled on my Christmas trees.

Variation #3: I moved the title to the bottom of the Christmas Trees.

Variation #4: Added leaves and a flower to the right side page.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Add-on Sketch #12

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the add-on sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar.

Here is what I did with the sketch:

"Christmas Tree" by Lynette Jacobs

Supply list - Base: Florist oasis cone; Printed papers: Fancy Pants Traditions; Other:Pins, glitter and bazzill card stock.

Variation #1: I decided to make a Christmas tree and used the same size strips as on the sketch.

Variation #2: I curled the ends of the strips and pinned it onto the Oasis cone starting from the bottom up.

Variation #3: I made a little cone to cover the pins on the top of the tree.

Variation #4: I used a star die cut to cut two stars that I glittered and stuck together back to back after sticking it to a long pin. I then pinned the star to the top of the tree.

Go and check out the beautiful sketches and what the Design Team created on Sketch Support.

xx

Christmas wishes

2011-12-23T13:29:00.002+02:00

I have been pretty bad at blogging and even worse at reading those I am following. I must confess that although it was my choice to BREATHE and enjoy the process of life this year, the wheels just seem to come off towards the end. When everyone started celebrating, going on holiday and generally just having good cheer...all I wanted to do was sit in a corner with a sadness I could just not shake off. I guess all the emotions about my father, Wynand and Nadia finally moving to their own home, trying to keep a family together (Eish...that must be the hardest thing ever...I always find myself in the middle playing the peacemaker), hard work at the Mission and the constant headaches finally got to me. I still haven't managed to shake the "meh" feeling.

Anyhow....

I wish each and every one of you a blessed Christmas spent with those you love...and let us all celebrate the Great Gift we received more than 2000 years ago.

xx

Still HERE;-)

2011-12-07T13:29:00.003+02:00

Ansie (my little sister;-) and I at the Beach restaurant.

I got back from my parents in Kidd's Beach a week ago and I haven't had a moment to slow down or catch my breath. We are into our busiest time of the year at the Mission. I am also struggling with the emotional turmoil in our lives at present. I apologize for not getting to your blogs, but I seriously don't have the time at the moment, so please forgive me.

The last two days in East London was not easy. On Monday early my mom was dressed to the nines and ready to leave to visit my dad in hospital. She then got a call from my dad to say that he is being moved to oncology. They were hoping against hope and my mom was so devastated that I watched her age before my eyes. Suddenly the clothes she was wearing was too tight and when I caught up with her in their bedroom, she had gotten rid of it. It is awful and at the same time comforting that Ansie and I were there at the time. By the afternoon my mom phoned to say that my dad is being discharged. The specialist had told them that there is nothing more they can do and treatment will only make him sicker.

We took him home and I cannot explain to you the joy on his face when we stopped in front of their home in Kidd's Beach. He was so happy to finally get home. My prayer for them is that my mom will embrace the next months and that my dad will find peace.

A lot has been happening at the Mission in the past few weeks...and it will get even busier as we get closer and closer to Christmas. Bianca has been keeping the Mission's blog and Facebook page up to date, so please go and see what we have been up to....and "like" our page please. You will find us here: blog: http://vistarus.blogspot.com/ and Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vistarus-Mission-Station/228171287243605?sk=wall

I saw the neurosurgeon last Friday for the results of the MRI scan. There is a problem with the C7 disc in my neck which explains my headaches and shoulder pains. I need to go for an EMG (Electromyogram) before anything can be done. The neurologist that does this test can only see me on 24 January next year. Until then I will be sleeping with one of these delightfully fashionable neck braces;-)

I have left getting my neck brace until yesterday. For some reason I was just not looking forward to wearing it. Last night was my first night sleeping with it....and this morning I found it.....sitting in a corner of my bedroom where I threw it during the course of the night.

I have been selected to be part of the Sketch Support team for the next year term starting in January and I am very excited about it. I love working with Allison Davis sketches and the whole team are an inspiration.

I have also entered for this course by Stephanie Ackerman that will be running for the entire year. I would love to be able to doodle like she does.

In the first six months this is what we will be covering:

January - Being Honest with Yourself

February - Surrendering Your Heart

March - Owning your Talent

April - Random Acts of Art

May - Life IS Beautiful

June - Surrounding Yourself with Friends

I am excited...I feel that in this coming year I want to really EMBRACE LIFE in all it's aspects.

Wynand, Nadia and the boys have moved to their house and my home is now eerily quiet. Most of their furniture hasn't moved yet because they are still in the process of completing their flooring and cupboards.

We have already completed white washing the knotty pine ceilings in our home and every evening we paint walls and re-arrange furniture and paintings. The deadline for completing all the dirty work is Wednesday next week when we get the Carpet cleaners in to clean up. I will show you the before and after pics as soon as it is all done.

Until then.

The sound of silence

2011-11-27T22:01:00.001+02:00

“Silence is pure and holy. It draws people together because only those who are comfortable with each other can sit without speaking.”
― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

One thing I know.

I love silence.

I am totally comfortable with it.

I cannot function without it.

I need it like I need oxygen and food.

Without it I cannot recharge and refresh.

Another thing I know.

Some people cannot handle silence.

They need to fill it with incessant chatter.

I sometimes wish that these people came with a "mute" button.

My ears become tired of listening.

We (my sister and I) share a room in Kidd's Beach. In the crazy rush to and from hospital in these past few days, I have come to cherish the quiet moments...the time I need to just relax and become silent. The little picture above could have been a picture of us. We can spend all day together, quietly doing our own thing. I realise how important it is to just be...no talk needed.

How do you feel about silence?

Kidd's Beach - East Londen

2011-11-26T07:18:00.001+02:00

I collected my sister Ansie from the airport on Thursday and we left for East London directly. We were both shocked to see how thin our dad's has become. He is just skin and bone...and his colouring is yellow. According to the CT scan the tumour in his lung is 8cm in diameter. We stayed with him until 8 the evening and then ran to the car in the pouring rain. We decided to have supper at Grazia on the beach front of East Londen before we return to Kidd's Beach.

We woke to a beautiful day on Friday morning and decided to go for a walk on the beach before we return to the hospital.

A little bit of heaven on this earth.

Mom and Me.

Unspoiled beaches.

Ansie and Mom

We then left for the hospital and was just in time to greet my dad before he was wheeled into the theater for a biopsy of the mass in his lung. When he came out of theater he was in so much pain and he struggled to breathe. There is nothing as emotionally draining than seeing somebody you love struggling to breathe and grow more and more anxious. He sat upright and Ansie massaged his neck and shoulders. We called the sister and she gave him a cortisone injection. He is a stubborn man and insisted that he didn't feel better although the machine that measures the oxygen in his system showed it within acceptable range. He also refused sleeping tablets saying that he can't sit up and sleep. Eventually Ansie coaxed him into taking a sleeping tablet after she told him it was just something to relax him. We eventually left the hospital after he fell asleep at 8:30. We drove back to Kidd's Beach and just collapsed into bed.

I hope that he is feeling a better today.

Healing feelings:-)

2011-11-23T10:30:00.003+02:00

Doodle by Stephanie Ackerman

Thank you for all your support and love following my previous post. I appreciate all your love and prayers.

I have become a big fan of the gorgeous doodles by Stephanie Ackerman and I am seriously considering enrolling for her online course "Doodling 101". Today I have to write a letter to loved ones about my feelings and it is going to be hard, but I am at a point in my life where I know I HAVE to do it...leaving it will make the feelings turn into resentment and that is not where I want to be.

Tomorrow morning at 8 I am scheduled for a MRI of my neck. My sister Ansie is flying in from Cape Town just before 1 o'clock, I will then pick her up from the airport and we will be driving down to Kidds Beach near East London to be with our parents.

I need to share the sketch and layout for Sketch Support this week. Here is the sketch:

One-page Sketch #15

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the one-page sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of the Sketch Support blog.

Supplies used: Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed papers: My Minds Eye (Lost and Found); Punches: Martha Stewart; Rubon: Kaisercraft; Alphabet: Quickutz Blossom; Other: DMC Cotton.

Variation #1: I followed the directions on the sketch but replaced the stripe paper with glittered blocks.

Variation #2: I punched the strip below the stripe strip and attached it with a row of hand stitching.

Variation #3: I replaced the leaves with falling hearts and added a second layer that pops up.

Chat again soon.

Life is too short...

2011-11-21T15:51:00.002+02:00

Word art by Stephanie Ackerman

My dad was admitted to hospital on Friday for tests. He has lost so much weight. After a lung biopsy my mom was told this morning that he has lung cancer. More tests will be done before we know the way forward. I feel such sadness. He was never really part of my life when I was growing up...and now time seem to be running out.

Thank goodness it is Friday.

2011-11-18T18:19:00.001+02:00

After a busy week I am thankful that it is Friday and I have two days to relax and recharge my batteries. I had my appointment with the neurosurgeon this week and have been scheduled for a MRI of my neck next Thursday. I will then be seeing the doctor again on 2 December. Until then I have been told to sleep with a soft neck brace...will still have to see how that one pans out.

Anyhow...onto my project for Sketch Support this week.

Add-on Sketch #11

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the add-on sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of the Sketch Support blog.

I initially did not know what to do with this sketch....that was until I saw this bonus two page sketch by Allison Davis.

You can print this sketch from the "two-page sketches" page.

So after combining the two sketches this is what my project looked like.

Supplies used: Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Papers: Dream Street Papers (Sam); Felt flowers: Scrapbooking Collection; Leaves: Prima; Tag: Basic Grey Basics; Brads: Art from the Heart; Rub ons: Kaisercraft; Alphabet: American Craft; Punch: Martha Stewart.

Variation #1: I used the leaf in two sizes.

Variation #2: I cut the template in two and then traced the two sides on stripe paper.

Variation #3: I used a black marker to do faux stitching along the lines of the paper.

I am still a wee bit uncomfortable with too much white space so I added the banner with my Sew Easy tool and then cut little triangles to go inside the stitching...I finished it off with brads between the banners.

Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend.

Proudly South African

2011-11-16T16:59:00.004+02:00

I want to share with you a debate that was taking place on my sister, Herlien's facebook page yesterday. I was watching this unfold with amusement and amazement... but please read this for yourself and then we will chat.

SHOUT

Congratulations South Africa. Congratulations Cape Town. TABLE MOUNTAIN has officialy been named as one of the new "7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD." This is a momentous occassion for all South Africans as the revenues from tourism are expected to add jobs and more oppurtunity for all as tourism is expected to boom in the Western Cape. We cannot wait to welcome the world to our shores. Peace & Love, SHOUT.

LikeUnlike · ·Unfollow PostFollow Post · Share · November 12 at 7:33am

o Clark DeNoble and Charlie Newcombe like this.

Anita Treurnicht We regularly get travel advisory updates here in Oz that it's not safe to travel to South-Africa.Table Mountain is special,but not safe to visit:-(

November 12 at 12:07pm · LikeUnlike

Herlien Rheeder I think any place can be unsafe - I would go up Table Mountain tomorrow. Bad things happen every where so caution always important, but - don't think it's any more, travelling to South Africa than any where else.

November 12 at 12:30pm · LikeUnlike · 1Loading...

Anita Treurnicht Have to agree to disagree on this one.The stats on crime in SA tells the whole story.Have you travelled much?

November 12 at 12:46pm · LikeUnlike

Herlien Rheeder Still a beautiful country with much to offer :-)

November 12 at 2:55pm · LikeUnlike

Clark DeNoble Crime statistics always look worse from outside the neighborhood, city, state or country yet people are thriving in those areas. If someone is ignorant enough to wander into trouble then nowhere is safe.

November 12 at 3:24pm · UnlikeLike · 1Loading...

Herlien Rheeder Well said Clark. That's exactly what I was trying to say. I love this country - because of the good and in spite of the bad.

November 12 at 3:27pm · LikeUnlike · 1Loading...

Anita Treurnicht You can not compare safety in SA with Aus or Europe.If you have not been anywhere but SA you will not know any different.You simply believe what you want to.I will go anywhere in the dark hours of the night here and feel safe.Not where you are.

Sunday at 12:28am · LikeUnlike

Herlien Rheeder

I guess if you like going around any where you like in the dark hours of the night it's better that you left ;-). And no - I'm not ignorant to crime in South Africa compared to other countries - I simply choose to focus on the positive, be ...cautious and stay safe and enjoy all this country has to offer. Compared to how many people visit our beautiful mountain every day, the incidents of crime reported on our mountain are relatively few. I am proud to say that my little sis Elsa will be visiting us from Australia in January. And yes - we are planning to go up Table Mountain.See More

Sunday at 8:10am · LikeUnlike · 1Loading...

Anita Treurnicht Enjoy the visit and Africa.Yes, I'm glad I've left so that We can enjoy a better quality of life,but if you have to stay there , you've got the right attitudex

Sunday at 9:45am · LikeUnlike

Herlien Rheeder I don't have to stay here.... I choose to stay here. The same as many people who could leave if they so chose, but would rather stay. You would be surprised at how many people choose to stay - precisely because they couldn't enjoy the same quality of life any where else. So once again - let's agree to disagree and leave it at that ;-).

Sunday at 9:50am · LikeUnlike

Anita Treurnicht
You are absolutely right Herlien.You also need a lot if guts,drive and money to start over in a new country . That is the hard choice. We love to travel and broaden our " horizons " and it's so nice to do if you earn dollars in stead of rand. I do admire your positive attitude, way to go in SA.

Sunday at 11:25am · LikeUnlike

Clark DeNoble Where is Oz?

Sunday at 3:34pm · LikeUnlike · 1Loading...

Herlien Rheeder The place you go to ask the wizard for brains, a heart and courage ;-)

Sunday at 3:51pm · LikeUnlike · 1Loading...

Ansie Els My family are in a position to live anywhere and we've travelled extensively. SA is still the best.

Sunday at 3:54pm · LikeUnlike

Ansie Els I guess South Africa's not for sissies... lol

Sunday at 3:57pm · LikeUnlike

Clark DeNoble Smartass! Seriously what was Anita talking about "Oz"

Sunday at 5:56pm · LikeUnlike

Herlien Rheeder Australia dear Clark ;-)

Sunday at 6:10pm · LikeUnlike

Clark DeNoble My niece and her Aussie husband live there and they've never used that term. Thanks

Monday at 12:03am · LikeUnlike

Herlien Rheeder I don't think it's a commonly used term. My aunt has lived there since the age of 16 and I've never heard her or my cousins use that term either. Neither my sister and her family who'vlived there for the past 15 years. My aunt still comes back to visit once every two years.

Monday at 3:14am · LikeUnlike · 1Loading...

Anita Treurnicht Ai,so baie Suid-Afrikaners het hierdie kleinlikheid en verkrampte seining,soos volstruise met jul koppe in die sand.Ansie as jy dink SA is die beste is jy beslis met jou koppie in die sand,oningelig en in jou eie kleine wereldjie

Monday at 11:38pm · LikeUnlike

Anita Treurnicht You can still be in a position to live anywhere,but not have the courage to leave your comfort zone.Maybe it's a good thing you all don't know what you're missing,I feel sorry for you.I have also lived in the Isle of Man for a year,what a gorgeous place! you will probably not know where that is...To make such a issue out of the abbreviation Oz,that's so typical small minded South-African.Get a life.

Monday at 11:50pm · LikeUnlike

Clark DeNoble I don't know what Anita's problem is but she's your friend so I'll say nothing about her inferiority complex...

Yesterday at 6:12am · UnlikeLike · 1Loading...

Herlien Rheeder Not much of a friend - old friend from school who added me on facebook - don't know what her problem is. I respect her decision to leave - but she doesn't seem to be able to do the same. Gosh little Anita - you've turned really nasty. Not the way - remember you at all. Maybe the change wasn't so good for you after all??

Yesterday at 6:16am · LikeUnlike · 1Loading...

Herlien Rheeder Fortunately Clark - I don't have inferiority complex, so I find her comments amusing. I don't have to leave the country to prove anything to anybody. Or run away to 'Oz'. I already have a brain, heart and courage ;-)

Yesterday at 6:20am · LikeUnlike · 1Loading...

Ansie Els Sorry to insult your frien Herlien but that's why they say that when SA'ns run off to Australia and Nieu Zealand the average IQ of all three countries increase ;-D lol

Yesterday at 6:23am · UnlikeLike · 2Loading...

Andre Van Rooyen As well as the average RQ. (Racist quotient). The REAL reason why most people leave.

17 hours ago · UnlikeLike ·

I want to tell you how I feel.

I love this colourful country that we live in. Where my faith is concerned I know that we have been called to be in this nation for exactly a time like this. We need to make a difference and be the salt and the light in this country.

Do I have my head in the sand. NO! I don't, I know exactly what is going on in our country politically and economically. Even so, I believe that we have a great future ahead of us.

Am I afraid? No, I am not, the Lord has not given me a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind.

What about the future of my children and grandchildren? I have seen my children become entrepreneurs in this country and today they don't only provide for their own families, they also created jobs so that others can earn a living and provide for their families.

Is it easy? No, but then again, why should it be. Our nation is a proud nation that lived through the Great Trek through this country when it was still wild, they lived through the Anglo Boer war and survived the concentration camps. We are strong and we are proud. This is our country and we belong here.

I hate it when people who have left this country, try to make us who choose to stay look like ignorant idiots. Really, I respect the fact that they wanted to leave and they really don't have to give me their reasons for leaving. Please, respect the fact that we have chosen to stay. I also don't ask for your negativity about my country...if you are negative, maybe it is a good thing that you left, we need people with positive attitudes if we have to make this country work.

LOL! Then I want to thank my sisters, Herlien and Ansie for standing up for what they believe in, I am proud of you...and Herlien... I will always remember fondly that "Oz is the place you go to ask the wizard for brains, a heart and courage ;-) I am thankful that we already have brains, a heart and courage and don't have to go to Oz to get it.

So...what do you say?

An Extraordinary Dad

2011-11-12T09:44:00.001+02:00

Today I want to talk about this man.
He is my best friend and my safe place.
Sometimes he knows me better than I know myself.
I can't think of a single thing that he wouldn't do for me.

I met him when I was only 17 years old...you could say that he helped raise me;-) I grew up in a home where a father was absent and therefore found the concept of knowing the Father heart of God alien. Watching this man with our children taught me the love of God the Father. He worked long and hard hours and to this day the children remember how he woke them when he got home, how he told them (with them half asleep) how much he loved them and then tucked them in.

He was a strict dad that set firm boundaries for our children but at the same time he was always looking for ways to add joy to their lives. He is real with the children, allowing them to make their own decisions and also allowing the growing pains when they made wrong decisions. He is never afraid to show his emotions and taught them that tears can be healthy, even for men. He easily forgives when they screw up and teaches them unconditional love. He has never been afraid to apologize when he treated them wrong. He taught them that family comes first and always stand together.

Today I see a lot of him in our boys and it makes my heart swell with pride. His roll model is Jesus Christ and therefore they will never struggle with the concept of the great love of the Lord or unconditional love. I see how my boys have become extraordinary dads themselves and I know that my DH set the foundations for this in their lives. I also see the remarkable roll he plays in the lives of our grand children.

The reason why I am writing this post is because I am so incredibly proud of this man and what he has achieved not only in our family but also in our community at the Mission. Yesterday morning PE Childline honoured my DH by awarding him with "An Extraordinary Dad Award". The Lord has given him such a big heart of love and compassion that he has become the father and roll model to so many men and women who are fatherless. It is amazing when an organization like Childline recognizes his contribution to the community. t

Thank you for listening to me waxing lyrically about this man who is so close to my heart.

Have a wonderful weekend.
xx

Wednesday...Wednesday:-)

2011-11-09T13:49:00.002+02:00

I wanted to do a wordless Wednesday post today....but I found that there is just too much else to share.

Yesterday morning I got up with a slight headache and by 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon it was a pounding headache that had me so nauseous that all I wanted to do is get home. When I got home my specs was missing and for the life of me I don't know what I did with them. They are not at work, not in my car and not at home. I only got them last year in December and just thinking of the cost of replacing them makes me feel quite sick. They were multi- focal lenses with the tint that makes them go dark outside. I feel quite lost without them. Does things like that happen to you...where you just can't remember what you did with something or where you put them?

Anyhoo, I am so glad that my appointment with the neurosurgeon is next week and then hopefully it will be the end of this insanity;-) Wednesdays are usually my day off and I am spending my time today to catch up with some scrappy assignments for Sketch Support. Later today I will be fetching my little ones and tonight we will take them to the Spur. (their favourite place to eat) For now let me share this week's sketch and layout with you.

Two-page Sketch #22

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the two-page sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of the Sketch Support Blog.

"My do it Myself"
Supplies used - Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed papers: Crate Paper, Echo Park(Life is Good); Stickers: Echo Park; Buttons: Basic Grey; Flowers: Petaloo; Punch: Martha Stewart.

Variation #1: I punched the background block.
Variation #2: I used 4x6 photos.
Variation #3: I cut the pattern paper strips 9 inches long.
Variation #4: I added trim below the photos.
This documents the day Leane decided to cut her own hair.

Last weekend I looked at some of the craft ideas that I have pinned on Pinterest, and two of the layouts could be done with scraps of paper. I loved the August Limited Edition kit that I purchased from My Creative Scrapbook. It has such soft and dreamy colours and I have used most of it on other photos taken during our July photo shoot...so I was down to scraps. This is what I did with the scraps.

With this layout I am also playing along with Get Picky. Here is there inspiration challenge for this month. You must use fabric on your layout and I used lace trim on both the layouts below.

Supplies used: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed papers - Melissa Francis 5th Avenue; Rubons - Kaisercraft; Flowers - Prima; Alphabet - American Craft; Pearls - Melissa Francis.

Supplies used: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed papers - Melissa Francis; Die cuts - K&Co; Title - K&Co; Flowers - Prima; Trim - Prima and MME; Pearls - Melissa Francis.

I love to interlock hexagons...it makes for such a pretty design.

What are you doing with your Wednesday?

xx

Blog your heart - November

2011-11-07T13:56:00.038+02:00

I found this challenge on Stephanie Howell's blog. It is quite simple, once a month you are challenged to blog your heart. HONESTLY. it can be silly, funny, serious, short or long...whatever you want it to be, as long as it is authentic. No judging on what is shared. :) also you don't have to blog, you can share in the comments. So this is my heart:

I have noted a trend on my blog lately. I. MOAN. TOO. MUCH. I don't like myself very much when I moan about everything. It is time to remember the many things that I have to be thankful for. So I want to do this monthly and then revisit it before I move on to the next month's post.
I decided to take a break from Facebook. I don't NEED to know what is going on in everyone's lives and it takes up way too much of my time. That is the very reason why I didn't even consider Twitter or Pinterest to start off with. Hehe, I did start pinning recently and it also wastes a lot of time. I am calling it my one and only guilty pleasure for now. I made two scrapbook layouts this weekend inspired by things I pinned under "crafty ideas". So that makes it OK?
I love having my daughter back. B has come back with such a change in heart that I still stand amazed at what the Lord has done in her life. She has been going for weekly counselling sessions and I am touched by how she has embraced her new life. I am touched at how responsible she has become about the tiny new life she is carrying. Yesterday morning I mentioned to her that we are going to church and if she wanted to come along she is welcome. For the first time she sat next to me in church without feelings of resentment and hatred....and my heart is so thankful that the Lord have returned to me that which the devil had tried to steal.
Last night we sat in the church at the mission and it was an evening of testimony...and tears just flowed when people that were so totally lost, broken and addicted testified of the goodness of God and how deep He had taken them out and how thankful they are. It is at times like this that I know that this calling on our lives might not always be easy, but it is worthwhile and rewarding. Seeing this kind of restoration is amazing and humbling.
I realize with all my heart how true these verses in Romans are: "²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.... ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?..... ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
You all know that I started seeing a chiropractor. After the first few appointments he told me that he very much doubts whether I have fibromyalgia. (which I have been diagnosed with 8 years ago) I have a definite neck problem and that is causing the muscle spasms and the headaches. So I am being proactive and made an appointment with a neuro surgeon for next week. He will probably send me for an MRI and we will get to the bottom of what is really wrong...and hopefully an end to the "pain-in-the-neck":-)
I am looking forward to redecorating my home after the children have moved out. A friend who is a whiz with decorating has offered me her expert advise and I seriously cannot wait to get started. The first thing will be to paint the dark face brick walls in the house and white wash the existing knotty pine ceilings. That should already make a huge difference and lighten my home. I also need to replace many of the light fittings. I plan to take before and after pics. Very exited!!!!
I plan to enjoy these last days with the children and not sweat the small stuff. I want to stay positive and not get irritated...and I am going to need grace to do that. I know that the Lord is teaching me something in this too.

...and that is my heart right now. I would love it if you would share yours.

Some valuable "me" time.

2011-11-04T09:30:00.002+02:00

Okay...so I took "time out" and pretended that I was on THAT island. Thank you for understanding, I am so relieved to know that I am not alone:-) I have found my "big girl panties" and will deal with it again today:-)

Bianca has been in bed with flu this week and because she is pregnant the doc couldn't give her meds....so it was bed rest for her. She seems to be much better today.
Nadia returned from a week away to a wedding in Kakamas on Tuesday, so the routine in the house is returning to normal.
You all wanted to know WHO the other pregnant child is...well, as you know Kobus Jr and Lache have been seeing each other again since February...and it appears that they more than just "saw" each other:-) The wonderful thing is that they are working on there relationship and appear to be very happy together. To say that the little ones are thrilled with their parents being together again is a huge understatement. Proof again, that with God nothing is impossible.
We are already in November....and NO...Wynand and his family have not moved out yet. They are hoping to do so within the next two weeks. (I am not holding my breath)
At the Mission things are speeding towards the end of the year. After all the mishaps while we were on vacation we have put a stop to new intakes. We have to first stabilize those already in our care. If we have too many people a lot of them just fly under the radar and we never see them or counsel them unless they mess up.
Other good news where the Mission is concerned.... a man that has previous experience in running a rehab has come aboard. He is a recovered heroin addict and will be working with our addicts in groups as well as one-on-one. A young pastor-in-training is also spending his afternoons at the Missions and will be working with mainly our men.
Now all I need is an accounting help...anybody?
I promise to visit your blogs over this weekend as I have put this weekend aside to veg!

I want to share the projects I made for Allison Davis' Sketch Support card week. You can go to their site and download this sketch from the sidebar.

I made a card and a layout based on this sketch. I used the August Limited Edition kit by My Creative Scrapbook kit club. I love the soft colours of the Melissa Francis papers. Here is the card:

Supplies Used: Cardstock: WorldWin textured cardstock; Printed Papers :Melissa Francis; die cut: K & Co; Flower: Prima; Pearls : Melissa Francis; Chipboard frame: Tattered Angels framed fonts; Sentiment: Kaisercraft. (My Creative Scrapbook Ltd Edition August kit)

Variation #1: I used a die cut instead of the white block.

Variation #2: I added the glittered chipboard frame to the middle of the die cut.

Variation #3: I placed a paper flower and a prima bloom in the middle of the frame and not to the side of the die cut.

Variation#4: I added pearls to the corners of the die cut.

Variation #5: I placed my sentiment diagonally across the bottom of the card.

This is the layout I made that is based on the sketch. I used a photo that was taken of Leane during our family photo shoot in July.

Supplies Used: Cardstock: WorldWin textured cardstock and Bazzill; Printed Papers: Melissa Francis; flower die cut and butterflies - K & Co; Flowers: Prima; Pearls: Upikit; Punch - Martha Stewart; Title: K&Company. (My Creative Scrapbook Ltd Edition August kit)

Variation #1: I cut my strips 3/4 inch wide.
Variation #2: I punched some cardstock to form a frame around the photo.

Variation #3: I added the butterflies to the flowers and the corner of the photo.

Responsibility

2011-11-02T15:30:00.015+02:00

Today was one of those days when I was torn between what I would like to do and what I have to do.
Is it only me...or do you also sometimes feel the heaviness and awesome weight of the responsibility you carry?

I have had such a hectic few weeks that I don't even get time to read or write blogs. I had to deal with an audit for our financial year end, an audit of vat reports, a myriad of other admin tasks and only when that was done did I get to the emotional side of our ministry. The counseling, the listening ear, the shoulder to cry on....
When I get home it is the usual...cooking, cleaning, washing. (I no longer have domestic help on a daily basis) Quite honestly, I am so pooped by the time 8:30 comes that all I want to do is get into bed.

Why do I have to be responsible and dependable....ALWAYS?
Responsibility always comes first.
Sometimes things happen around me and I see how other people just opt out of their responsibility and I wish I could be like that.
What bliss it will be to just clock out from all the responsibility.
No heavy weight to carry, no worrying about other people or other things.

So I tried to put it into words for DH. I asked him "Don't you think it will be wonderful to have no responsibility?" He didn't get it! He wanted to know whether I need to "go away" more often. Doesn't he realize that "going away" would just mean coming back to a huge backlog.

So do you sometimes feel the same....or is it just me?

xx

Getting your own back:-)

2011-10-26T14:15:00.001+02:00

Some time ago (nearly two years) I did this post about telemarketers. Yes, yes...I know they are just doing their jobs...but gosh, can't they find another job? Now I have found ways to irritate them;-)

When they ask "How are you today?", tell them: "I'm so glad you asked because no one these days seem to care, and I have all these problems; my arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my dog just died...
If they say they're John Doe from XYZ Company, ask them to spell their name. Then ask them to spell the company name. Then ask them where their company is located. Continue asking them personal or questions about their company for as long as necessary. Such as when did their company start, who was the founder, are they still with the company?
Cry out in surprise when a telemarketer gives you her name - such as: "Judy! Is that you? Oh, my goodness! Judy, how have you been?" Hopefully, this will give "Judy" a few moments as she tries to figure out where the hell she could know you from.
If the bank calls trying to get you to sign up for the Family and Friends plan, reply, in as sinister voice as you can: "I don't have any friends...would you be my friend?"
If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for bankruptcy and you could sure use some money.
Tell the telemarketer you are under "house arrest" and ask if they could bring you a case of beer and some chips.
After the telemarketer gives their schpiel, ask him or her to marry you. When they get all flustered, tell them that you could never just give our credit card number to a complete stranger;-)
Tell the telemarketer you are busy at the moment and ask them if they will give you their home phone number so you can call them back. When the telemarketer explains that they cannot give out their home phone numbers, tell him/her: "I guess you don't want anyone bothering you at home, right?" The telemarketer will agree, and then you say: "Now you know how I feel!"
Insist that the caller is really your buddy, playing a joke. "Come on Joan, cut it out! Seriously, how's your momma?"
Tell them to talk "very slowly" because you want to write "every word" down.

Okay...now to get myself to answer the phone when it rings;-)

**********************************************************

Last night I found out that another of my children are expecting a baby:-) My little family is really expanding and it makes me very happy.

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On to things scrappy...this week is One page sketch week over at Sketch Support

.One-page Sketch #14

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the one-page sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of Sketch Support.

Strike a Pose

Supply List: patterned paper: Bo Bunny Press, Cosmo Cricket, October Afternoon; banner stickers: October Afternoon; letter stickers: American craft; ink: Versa Magic; flowers: Prima; Trim: Fancy Pants and Prima; brads: Upikit; Punch: Martha Stewart.

Variation 1: I did not use three 4x6 blocks. I used a 6x12 piece of printed paper

Variation 2: I used two 5x3.5 photos.

Variation 3: I added a punched border and lace to seperate the photos and make them stand out.

Variation 4: I placed my title down the side of the printed paper.

Variation 5: I replaced the one strip of paper with a scalloped felt trim.

Variation 6: I added a row of flowers down the side of the photos.

Chat again soon

xx

It's a boy...and some scrappy challenges;-)

2011-10-22T18:15:00.001+02:00

On Monday I went with B to see the gynae...and I saw my little unborn grandson. Technology has really grown in leaps and bounds...and just seeing all this details are amazing. This scan is at 17 weeks and baba measures 12 cm from the crown of his head to his bottom. The doctor could even see that it is a little boy and was quick to show us his "little Eiffel Tower" :-) B has decided that his name will be called
Stefan (the Christian meaning being "The crown of His creation). What a blessing to be part of this process.

Onto things creative. I would like to show you two layouts I made this weekend based on My Creative Sketches. Both photos were taken during a family photo shoot on 14 July this year.

Supplies used: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed Papers - Websters (All about me); Flowers - Websters, Prima; Clock - Kelly Pannaci; Pearls - Kaisercraft; Punch - Martha Stewart; Title rubon - Scrapbook King. (My Creative Scrapbook Ltd Edition kit for October)

Here is the sketch:

and the next one:

Supplies Used: Printed Papers - Melissa Francis; Title and flower diecut - K & Co; Flowers - Prima; Pearls - Melissa Francis; Trim - Prima; Punch - Martha Stewart; Other - DMC Tread. (My Creative Scrapbook Ltd Edition August kit)

The sketch I used:

As you can see I flipped the sketch in order not to cover up the writing on the background paper.

I hope you are having a fabulous weekend.

The long "good night"

2011-10-18T17:50:00.000+02:00

This little mouse was lying in bed between DH and I the other night. When we put the television off he decided that he wanted to sleep in his own bed....thank goodness!

He walks out and closes our bedroom door. Then he opens it again:
Lukie: Lekker slaap! (good night)
Us: Lekker slaap, jy ook.(good night to you too) {he closes the door}{he opens the door}
Lukie: Oupa, daar is nie groot dinosaurs in die huis nie ne? (there isn't big dinosaurs in the house hey?)
Oupa: Nee Lukie, daar is nie dinosaurs in die huis nie. (no there is no dinosaurs in the house) {he closes the door}{he opens the door}
Lukie: Net klein dinosaurs wat pas onder die bed? (only small dinosaurs that can fit under the bed)
Us: Nee Lukie, daar is niks dinosaurs in die huis nie.(there is no dinosaurs in the house) {he closes the door and then opens it again}
Lukie: Droom van my hoor! (dream about me okay?)
Us: Ons gaan van jou droom, lekker slaap. (good night, we will dream of you) {he closes the door and opens it again}

Lukie: Ek gaan van Oupa en Ouma en Mamma en Pappa en Boetie en Bianca en Leane en Dewan droom. (he names everybody he is going to dream about)
Us: Gaan slaap nou! (go to bed now) {he closes the door and yes, you guessed it, he opens it AGAIN}
Lukie: Hoekom is julle lig nog aan? (Why is your light still burning?:-)
We put off the light and off he goes to bed.

I am beginning to realize how much we are going to miss him when they finally move to their own home.

I just want to share my two page layout for Sketch Support with you.

Two-page Sketch #20

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the two-page sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of Sketch Support.

Keeping Cool

Supplies Used: Cardstock - Bazzill: Printed Papers - October Afternoon, Pink Paislee, Cosmo Cricket, Simple Stories; Ribbon - Fancy Pants; Alpha -American Crafts.

I kept to the measurements and directions on the sketch.
I replaced the scalloped strip with a felt trim.
I printed and cut a sun to add to the left hand corner of the layout.

Scrappy challenges

2011-10-15T18:51:00.000+02:00

This first layout is for the challenge over at Scrap-it-Lah. The challenge is to include the following on your layout:-

Old book paper, sheet music or something similar {downloaded off the internet if necessary} if you don't have anything already...
Fussy cutting.
Hand-stitching using embroidery floss

Supply list: Printed paper - Melissa Francis; Flowers - Prima; Butterfly - Pink Paislee; Alphabet - American Craft and Making Memories tiny alpha; Other - DMC Embroidery floss. (The My Creative Scrapbook Limited Edition kit for August 2011)

The photos were taken during our family photo shoot in July...and as you can clearly see Lukie wanted nothing to do with it all. I used this sketch by Melinda Spinks.

The next layout is for the My Minds Eye October sketch challenge. The theme is fall. We don't have such pronounced autumns as the people in the Northern Hemisphere experience, so I decided to use autumn colours in my layout.

Supply list: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed Papers - My Minds Eye Lost and Found; Stickers, trim and brads - My Minds Eye Lost and Found; Alphabet - American Craft; Other - Martha Stewart punch.

DH took these photos of Lukas with his cellphone camera...not bad hey! The photos were taken on Wynand and Nadia's plot and Lukas made great use of a big pile of dirt.

Here is the sketch for the October challenge:

My scrap room has been calling my name for the past three weeks and I enjoyed my time creating again.

Funeral vs Celebration of Life

2011-10-14T18:34:00.001+02:00

We had a funeral today at the Mission. A 39 year old young man died on Sunday after taking an overdose of prescription medication. I want to believe that it was accidental. I can't believe that he wanted to die. He had so much to live for. He adored his wife of 7 months. He had accepted the Lord as his Saviour. He was getting his life in order. Now he is gone. I truly believe that he is with the Lord and that where he is there is no more sorrow and no more pain.

I don't handle sad emotional events well. Feelings are so raw. You see the regret and guilt of those left behind. You see all the emotions....the tears...you hear the "what if's". Then they ask friends and family to say a few words and that is usually when I fall apart at the seams.

An event like this always make me look at my life. I realize that it is important to live each day to the full, you never know when your time will come. Live in a manner worthy of your calling and walk with the Lord. It is important to sort out the "unfinished business". Resolve difficult relationships and live in peace with those close to you.

I remember a time during a Child Play Therapy Course a couple of years ago. We were told to write our "funeral letter" to establish what unfinished business still lurked. Gosh, I never did that task and just found it too daunting and too dark.

I just know one thing. When I die, I want it to be a celebration of my life. No long faces and no tears. I want people to remember me with laughter and happiness. Not regrets and guilt. I want everyone to wear bright clothes. I want people to have a jolly happy party. That would be the "send off" I would love. Lastly, please give me flowers while I am still alive to enjoy them and tell me you love me while I can still hear the words.

xx

The merry-go-round of life....

2011-10-12T19:50:00.002+02:00

Some days it feels that life is going at such a speed, that all I can do is hang on for dear life.

So what have we been up to....

Photo taken with my Blackberry

DH and I spent a week in Plettenberg Bay at the Beacon Island Resort. I did not take a single photo with my Canon. All I did was sleep and eat and read and eat some more. We went out twice....once to have breakfast at Old Nick's and the other to have breakfast at the Lookout Deck. The rest of the time was spent chilling on the lawn of the hotel or chilling in the Sea Lounge with a book....and I have the extra kilograms to prove it.

We came back home to this "little" surprise. A two month old Great Dane. You can just imagine how charmed I was considering their other hound, Nina, did this to my Blackberry a month ago.

We arrived home on Saturday and on Sunday morning we set off to Off Camber Adventures, a party venue where Christian had his 9th birthday party. The venue is in the Elands River Valley and Sunday the temperature reached 40 degrees....so it felt very close to hell;-) Most of the time was spent in the pool.

Wynand and Lukie

Christian and Lukie...walking the plank:-)

Oupa and Lukie

The cake was baked by Nadia and her friend Renata.

Birthday boy blowing out the candles.

Most of us sat around looking wilted:)

On Monday it was back to work....

We were in over our heads from the word go.
One of our people overdosed on prescription medication and died on Sunday.
One of our leaders relapsed into heroin.
Three of the ladies on the program were caught selling schedule 5 pain medication (that they obtained on the black market) to other people in the mission.
We had to make some drastic decisions regarding taking on any new people.
I am at least two weeks behind with my admin.
The auditors decided that this was the week to start with the annual audit....JOY!

So with this in mind, please be gentle when I don't come visiting your blogs often in the coming days.

Sketch Support October card sketch

2011-10-07T16:24:00.000+02:00

Card Sketch #12

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the card sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of the Sketch Support blog.

Here is my first take on the sketch...a card.

Supplies used: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed papers - Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon, Simple Stories; Flowers: Unknown from my stash; Chipboard Flourish - Enmarc; Glitter - Crazy Crafts; Sentiment rubon - Kaisercraft; Pearls - Upikit.

I followed the measurements of the sketch.
I replaced the stars with flowers
I used a chipboard scroll that I covered in glitter
I added pearls to the corners of the top printed paper.

Then I made to one page layouts based on the sketch. Here is the first one:

Supplies used: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed Papers - Cosmo Cricket, October Afternoon, Simple Stories; Ribbon - Local Haberdashery; Alpha - Simple stories and American Craft; Flowers - Prima and My Creative Scrapbook August kit; Chipboard Flourish - Enmarc; Quote rubon - Kaisercraft.

I cut a square piece of Bazzill and 9.5 x 9.5 inches

I cut hexagons from the printed paper and made a quilt.

I added faux stitching to each hexagon.

I framed the piece of bazzill with a punched border.

I replaced the striped paper with lace ribbon.

I used two photos and punched the photo mat with a punch.

I added the flowers and flourish to the right hand corner of the photos.

The second layout was made for the Simple Stories product challenge.

This photo of Lukie and Leane was taken on Dewan's first birthday.

Supplies used: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed papers and stickers - Simple Stories; Felt ribbon - MME Fine and Dandy; Alpha - American Craft.

I cut four 5x5 inch squares and matted it on brown cardstock
I added faux stitching to each square.
I replaced the striped paper with a felt ribbon.
I matted my photo on a punched photo mat.

I added the baloons and the flourish to the right hand corner of the photo.

Please visit the Sketch Support blog and see the many different variations to this awesome sketch by Allison Davis.

From A - Z

2011-10-03T16:57:00.000+02:00

I want to play along too after reading Jennifer's post! I will also get to catch up on blog reading as soon as DH is off to the golf course.

A. Age: 50 (Ancient:-)
B. Bed size: King
C. Chore that you hate: Ironing
D. Dogs: Yes please! But only when I have my house back.
E. Essential start to your day: COFFEE! I don't do days without coffee.
F. Favourite colour: Turquoise
G: Gold or silver: White gold
H: Height: 5'7"
I: Instruments you play: None. When I was a child we were too poor to pay for lessons...but I would love to be able to play the keyboard or a sexy saxophone.
J: Job title: Financial director
K: Kids: 2 grown boys and a girl. Kobus (32) Wynand (29) and Bianca (22)
L: Live: Port Elizabeth on the east coast of South Africa
M: Mother's name: Ansie
N: Nick Name: none.
O: Overnight hospital stays: 2 babies and a back operation (4 nights)
P: Pet peeves: sales people
Q: Quote from a movie: Nothing springs to mind
R: Right or left handed: Right
S: Siblings: Andre, Anita, Elsa, Herlien and Ansie.
T: Tea or coffee: Coffee or "rooibos" tea.
U: Underwear: Oh my! At my age obviously.
V: Vegetables you hate: brusselsprouts
W: What makes you run late: Life;-)
X: X Rays: Dental and back
Y: Yummy food that you make: Leg of lamb with all the trimmings and pork chops with a layer of apple slices...yum.
Z: Zoo Animal: Panda bear

So, that is me in a nut shell! Hope you play along too! I'd love to learn more about my bloggy friends!!

Sketch Support September one page sketch

2011-09-30T17:31:00.001+02:00

One-page Sketch #13

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the one-page sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of Sketch Support.

I did two layouts based on this sketch.

"All Boy" by Lynette Jacobs
Supply list - Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Papers: My Minds Eye (Fine and Dandy);Stickers and Trim: My Minds Eye (Fine and Dandy); Alphabet: American Crafts; Rubons:Kaisercraft

• I changed my main photo to portrait.

• I used the sun and clouds from the same range of papers.

• I substituted the butterflies for owls.

• Instead of sewing I used the brown felt trim.

• I used ribbon as the flagpoles

"Life Documented" by Lynette Jacobs
Supply list - Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Papers: Echo Park (For the Record); Flowers: Petaloo and Making Memories; Brads: Chatterbox; Pearls: Upikit; Alphabet: Scenic Route; Rubons: Kaisercraft; Other: DMC Cotton.

• I kept strictly to the sketch.

• I used larger photos, therefore also cut the printed paper a bit wider.

• I cut my clouds from printed paper and hand stitched through it.

• I added pearls to the butterflies.

We are off for a week in Plettenberg Bay tomorrow. Enjoy your weekend.

xx

Times have changed...

2011-09-28T17:40:00.001+02:00

...since I was a young girl. In some instances I am glad but in other instances it makes me sad.

It makes me sad when I counsel with a girl of thirteen that looks like an eighteen year old. When I tell her that she should be playing with toys not with boys...and she laughs because she has no idea what I am talking about. It makes me sad that parents today have to deal with things like... if a child should or should not be part of the social networks. There are so many predators out there that I want wrap my grand babies in cotton wool and keep them safe. Life has become so hectic and there is so much peer pressure that raising children have become a mine field.

Then there are things that makes me glad that times have changed. When I was a young girl and girls became pregnant the first question would be "when are you getting married?" and years later the forced marriage would fall apart and become part of the statistics. Today it is not uncommon for young women to raise a child on their own...it is no longer frowned upon. In my young days when I became pregnant...my growing tummy was hidden by the most hideous tents that you can imagine...today young women show off their precious cargo.

Two weeks ago today Bianca phoned me with the news. She is pregnant. I asked her if she was happy. Was this man her "happily ever after"? Her reply was no, he was too old and too possessive. She wasn't living in good conditions. There was a lot of alcohol abuse, dagga smoking, swearing and racism. Money didn't last the month and she wasn't eating healthy food. I told her that she musn't think that she needs to stay in the relationship just for the baby's sake. She wanted to come home. Although she doesn't want to continue in the relationship she wants her baby to know his/her father....so I see some difficult times ahead...as the young man still believes that there is a future for them.

This past weekend we drove down to Cape Town to fetch her. Saying that I dreaded going to the place she was staying would be an understatement. I would have done anything to get out of that one;-) Meeting the man and his family was very awkward. Socially and culturally there is a divide as wide as the Grand Canyon between us.(and we are not hoity toity snobs). We were polite but wanted to get it over with as quickly and painlessly as possible.

So she has come home. In a year and three months we have come full circle and I have hope.

Oh yes...and my 5th grand baby will be born around 24 March 2012. A baby is always a blessing from the Lord.

xx

Sketch Support September Add On sketch

2011-09-24T10:03:00.001+02:00

Add-on Sketch #9

••••••••••••

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the add-on sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of the Sketch Support blog. Go and see the amazing projects that was done using this sketch.

"Lights, Camera, Action..." by Lynette Jacobs
Supply List - Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: Echo Park (For the Record); Ribbon:Maya Road; Alpha: Paper Trunk Bennie; Rub Ons: Kaisercraft; Pearls: Kaisercraft;Thread: DMC Embroidery thread

• I cut the camera body 7 inches by 11 inches.

• The horizontal stripes are 2.5 inches wide and 1.25 inches.

• I hand stitched down the length of the narrowest strip.

• My circle photo is 4 inches in diameter.

• I pasted my circle photo onto black bazzill 4.5 inches in diameter.

• I hand stitched around the photo with red thread.

• I added some yellow Maya Road ribbon around the bazzill.

• It looked a little bare so I added the narrow photo to the bottom of the layout.

• I finished it off with the sticker corners and the rub ons.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-21T09:07:00.000+02:00

Two thirds into this year...

2011-09-18T16:38:00.002+02:00

“For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”~ Alfred D'Souza

I can't believe that we are already halfway through September.
I look back and remember my word for this year..."breathe"...
I realize that I DID breathe deeply so far this year.
Has it all been easy? NO but...
I am at peace with the things that I cannot change.
I stress less.
I am enjoying the process of life.

Some of you were reading this blog last year when my son was struggling with his health and partially lost his sight...and you know that he has an inoperable condition. A few months ago he started complaining about headaches...and our first reaction was to start worrying once again. His doctor sent him for blood tests and when the results came in it was found that he has very high cholesterol levels. He changed his diet and the headaches stopped. It is quite possible that it was this that caused the brain haemorrhage last year. We discussed this and he just said that his relationship with the Lord would not have been as close if it didn't happen. Everything happens for a reason.

I have been to see the chiropractor twice now. The first week I had 4 headache free days and that was a biggie for me. I can live with pain in my neck and shoulders but the headaches just bowled me out;-) I am hoping that over time even the neck and shoulder pain will become history.

The children should be moving to their own home by the end of October.
My dreams of an empty nest....is just that, a DREAM.
We will be travelling to Cape Town next weekend to fetch my DD. She wants to come home. I will be blogging more on this soon. Suffice to say...we still have a couple of mountains that we have to climb.

How has your year been so far?
Have you got a word for this year?
Are you living up to it?

xx

Sketch Support September Two page sketch

2011-09-16T09:25:00.000+02:00

Two-page Sketch #19

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the two-page sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of the Sketch Support blog.

I made two layouts based on this sketch and here they are:

You make me so very HAPPY

Supply list: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed papers - Echo Park (For the Record); Doilies - Maya Road; Alphas - Echo Park; Other - DMC Cotton.

My DH always plays the fool when I am taking photos and I have always threatened to do a layout of his "silly pics". This sketch was perfect for them.
I kept to the sketch and replaced the striped striped with the "remember this" strip.
I stitched around my die cut and did faux stitching on the blocks.
I replaced the small scallops with the doilies.

Monkey Business

Supply list: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed papers - Jellibean Soup (Pasta Fagioli); Scalloped trim - MME Fine and Dandy; Alphas - American Craft and Paper Trunk

I kept to the sketch with this layout only replacing the scalloped paper with scalloped trim

I machine stitced all the stitching as per the sketch.

Here is another layout I recently did also using one of Allison Davis sketches from her new Sketches for Scrapbooking volume 8.

Route 62

Supply List: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed papers - Basic Grey Wander and Basics; Stickers - Basic Grey Wander; Chipboard Arrows - Scenic Route; Letters - American Craft.

The photos were all taken in March driving the Langkloof road from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. This route is called Route 62.

Scrapbook kits for sale;-)

2011-09-14T12:09:00.000+02:00

Last year I was a member of a couple of Scrapbook Kit clubs and as you will remember I hardly did any scrapping last year. So I am facing a huge stash at this stage. I have decided to sell some of this off as complete kits to South African scrappers. So here goes:

Kit One: TPC Grandma's Attic

Cost R500.

Kit 2: Websters Pages (Country Estate) and tons of Prima

Cost R350

Kit 3 - Websters (Ladies and Gents) and Prima

Cost R350

Kit 4 - Basic Grey Sweet Threads

Cost R350

Kit 5 - Page Kit Basic Grey Kioshi

Cost R150

Kit 6: Basic Grey Sugar Rush page kit.

Cost R150

Kit 7: Echo Park and Fancy Pants

Cost R300

Kit 8: Fancy Pants Frosted

Cost R300

If anyone of you are interested in these kits please contact me at lynette.jacobs11@gmail.com

Sketch Support September Sketch Week

2011-09-10T13:48:00.001+02:00

Card Sketch #11

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the card sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of Sketch Support.

Here is my card layout based on the sketch.

JUST BECAUSE

Supply list: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed Paper - Echo Park For the Record; Other - Martha Stewart punch and buttons from my stash.

I followed the directions of the sketch

I used dotted paper instead of the striped paper and punched the borders.

I punched the hearts with a Martha Stewart punch.

I added faux stitching to the squares.

I can never resist the challenge of using the card sketch to make a layout and I am pretty pleased with how it turned out.

LIFE NOTE

Supply list: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed Papers - Echo Park For the Record; Flowers - Prima; Chipboard Hearts - Maya Road; Pearls - Upikit; Rub on - Kaiser Scrapbook; Glitter - Pink Paislee pixie stix; Other - Martha Stewart punch, EK Success Punch,, DMC Tread.

I loved doing this layout.
I used a 5x7 photo that was framed with black bazzill that was punched on the edges.
The three squares measure 2-3/4 and stitched around the edges.
I painted the heart chipboard black and then sprinkled black glitter on it.
I added the border sticker below the photo and added the pearls.

Have a lovely weekend.

Facing reality

2011-09-09T10:20:00.001+02:00

Photocredit

This is one of my most difficult posts. I don't expect anyone to understand what and how I feel...and that is okay. I haven't been myself these past few weeks and I have had the most unlikely, out-of-character meltdowns that shocked even me. I was forced to face reality!

For eight years I have suppressed it. Ignored it. Made a joke of it. I even kept how I was feeling from my DH...I hate moaning. When it got bad...I would just go quiet.

You can only get away with it for so long. Slowly it will chip away at the carefully constructed mask you are wearing. It will wear you down. Sap all the joy out of your life. Drive you to despair...and eventually leave you with feelings of hopelessness and depression.

My argument (to myself) was that people wouldn't understand. Will think I am a hypochondriac looking for attention. I felt that it was a weakness. So I handled it with "positive thoughts" sort of "mind-over-matter"....after all if I don't mind it doesn't matter;-)

I even fought about it with the Lord. Asking Him to take it away from me. Like Paul (of the Bible) I started wondering if this wasn't "a thorn the Lord allows that will keep me from becoming arrogant".

Truth is that I have chronic pain and for the past six weeks I have had a headache. I go to sleep with it and the next morning I wake up with it. Me being me (I am not a sissy) I didn't listen to my body and just tried harder to suppress it, until it got so bad that that it forced me to go for injections to get the levels back under control. The doctor gave me a scolding and prescribed schedule 5 pain tablets with the strict instruction to "USE IT". So pills have kept the pain at bearable levels and allowed me to function relatively normally.

I, for one cannot, accept that I have to continue swallowing tablets for all eternity. I made an appointment with a Chiropractor, telling my DH that if that doesn't work the doctor will have to send me for a MRI to see if there isn't something else wrong with my neck.

What a relief. He was so gentle, he sat me down and explained to me exactly how the muscle, ligament and bone structure works. He worked my neck and shoulders and found my neck out of alignment so he started the adjustment. He told me that he believes that he can help me to manage my pain. I see light at the end of the tunnel.

I now need to keep a pain journal.

A tall order for someone who normally try my utmost to ignore it.

These past few weeks I got up with a level 2 headache and by the time I got back from work it had steadily built to a level 7.

I guess this is part of showing my vulnerable side. Do you understand pain? Do you suffer from pain?

Walking down memory lane

2011-09-05T18:23:00.000+02:00

Photo of 5 year old Kobus Jr and 3 year old Wynand.(See how much Lukas looks like his daddy;-)

A fellow blogger's post stirred up some old memories. When I married DH way back in 1979 he was working for a large supermarket group. In those days management were expected to start work a hour before the store opened and until the store was clean (up to an hour or more after closing time) It wasn't unusual for him to work 12 hours straight each day...and there was no such thing as lunch hours.

This meant that wives raised their children alone. I remember how often a week would go by without him seeing the children awake. They would be asleep when he left and asleep again by the time he got back home. The children still fondly remembers how he came home and would go and lie down next to them and wake them, telling them how much he loved them. Those were not easy days. We saw so many marriages fold under the pressure of having an absent husband and father. The funny (tragic) thing is that they was so brain washed into believing that this was normal that nobody ever complained. DH told me a few days ago that one of the guys that worked with him at the time recently retired and he took his family photo album to the owner of the stores and told him to look at his photos...after it was paged through he asked a pointed question. "Did you notice that I wasn't in one of the photos?" Sad!

I remembered many times standing at the athletics/rugby/gymnastics...ALONE! I remember how I attended prize givings ALONE. I was forced into the role of being the disciplinarian of the house because DH was never home and I didn't want him to scold the children in the little time that he spent with them. (My oldest son was always the naughty one at school and when he was called into the principal's office and told that they would be phoning his dad about his behaviour...he was relieved that they were not going to phone his mom;-)

Added to this was the fact that during the early years of our marriage, army camps and regular border duties had to be performed. So when Kobus Jr was six months old, DH left for the border for 3 months. When he came back...our little boy was already walking and couldn't remember his daddy. That was in 1980 and Operation Smoke Shell in the then South West Africa. He was called up for border duty every second year.

Do you have any idea how long three months can be...when you are all alone with no family living close?

Do you know that Murphy somehow always knew he was away...and the TV would conk in a few weeks after he left?

Do you know how much I hated mowing the lawn?

...and how long a weekend can become?

I realized how difficult it must be for single moms to raise their children on their own and I was thankful that there was a date and a time when DH would come home and it would all be over.

Isn't it amazing how we can live through such difficult times...and actually forget them. I am thankful that the things that could have driven us apart was also the things that bound us closer together.

Was your early years in marriage also challenging? What was the most difficult thing for you?

********************************************************************************

I just want to share this layout based on The Scrappiest sketch no 135. Liz will be taking a break from sketches this month so this will be the last one for a while.

Picnic in the Baviaans Nature Reserve - (photo post)

2011-08-31T14:01:00.000+02:00

Moving swiftly on...

Two weekends ago our Cell group decided to go for a 4x4 drive in the Elands Valley and the Baviaans Nature Reserve. My first thought that this isn't really "my thing". So glad I didn't actually say it...because it turned out to be a beautiful day in a beautiful part of our country. So early on Sunday morning we all bundled into 3 4x4 vehicles.

Ignoring the sign we entered this premises...

You can see the dam wall in the background.

The manager's house build in 1905.

The Sand River Dam built in 1929...what they did without the modern machinery is just amazing.

My favourite photo of the day.

We entered the Baviaans Nature Reserve and drove to the foot of the Cockscomb Mountain...beautiful!

Here we had coffee and rusks.

The heather is so pretty and it looks like little posies all over the veld.

Our one friend ventured into the bush to get close to the proteas...and she suffered from tick bite fever after being bitten by a tick during our trip.

An old house in the reserve...this is something our great grand kids will probably never see.

Perched high up on the Groot River Pass.

Needless to say the men loved the trip...you know boys and their toys?

Another very pretty bush that is showing it's spring blossoms.

In this photo you can see how strong and how wide the river ran during our recent floods.

We had a lovely picnic lunch next to the river.

Spending time with good friends...priceless.

One of the men in our group making a big splash.

This is the first time we drove to the Baviaans Kloof....and it is right on our doorstep. Do you also live near beautiful places you have never visited?

Shades of blue

2011-08-28T19:32:00.000+02:00

It has been creeping up on me these past weeks.
I am not in a good place.
I came back from our vacation with the knowledge that I have had enough of sharing my space. I love order in my home...everything in it's place. My home has always been my sanctuary...now I want to run away. For the past six months my formal lounge, garage and our lapa have been turned into storage. Everybody doesn't feel the same about being neat and orderly. No privacy. It is driving me around the bend.

With the knowledge that I have had enough came intolerance and impatience. Broken sleep and unrelenting pain in my neck and shoulders have probably added to this. It has chipped away at me and has turned me into somebody I don't want to be...somebody I don't like. It feels as if all joy has been squeezed out of me. I know that joy and happiness is a choice....but I don't want to choose. I know that I have a lot to be thankful for...but I just don't care. Pathetic!

Today I wanted to see how their house was progressing. I got back into the car with a heavy heart...there is still SO MUCH work. I felt despair rising up in me and felt the urge to cry..I used all my strength to push it back down, to where it belongs. When DH got into the car he picked up on my mood and he asked me to tell him what is wrong. I tried to remain in control...it came out jumbled, I am unhappy, frustrated and I think I am depressed.

I waited, expecting him to tell me to "get a grip". To tell me that Christians don't feel this way. It did not come. Instead he took my hand and told me how much he loved me. What can he do to make "it" better? My perfect composure crumbled.

A movie outing

2011-08-26T09:31:00.005+02:00

Yesterday afternoon when I picked up our three little ones from creche for their sleepover with us, I announced that we are going to the movies. Lukas had been before but not so for Dewan and Leane...so excitement reached fever pitch by the time they had their supper, was bathed, dressed and ready to go. I talked DH into coming along. I knew that handling three might not be that easy on my own.

We went to watch the animated movie "Sammy's adventures". We were the only people in the cinema...so nobody cared if the children laughed out loud...when we explained a scene... or when Dewan and Lukas made the chairs a jungle gym. The children loved the movie...and sat mesmerized for the first hour...then their concentration waned and they started getting fidgety.

After the movie they wanted to visit the loo, because Leane needed to go. Thinking that DH will take care of the boys we entered and I helped Leane. What an adventure followed. When I walked out of the stall I found a discarded nappy lying on the floor and then I found Dewan in another stall...just his feet, head and and hands (holding on for dear life) sticking out from the loo...it was hilarious! Lukas was found in another stall doing something similar. It took ages to get bums wiped, hands washed and dried...and washed and dried....and washed and dried. It became a game...when I was busy with one, the other would get their hands wet again. During all this DH was sitting outside without a care in the world.

Then it was time for ice cream at the Wimpy. Lukas demanded to know where the play area was and when he was told that there is no play area he wanted Oupa to take him to the Spur. Dewan swung like a monkey from the bars that separated the Wimpy from the mall. Leane developed a "head ache" because the ice cream was too cold (I kid you not). When we laughed at her she even managed to squeeze out two huge tears to prove it.

Okay...onto something crafty. This week at Sketch Support this is the sketch that is being showcased. To see the wonderful work done by the design team and the different variations to the sketch...visit Sketch Support.

You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the one-page sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of the Sketch Support blog.

Here is my layout based on the sketch. I stretched the sketch over two pages.

"Best Friends" by Lynette Jacobs
Supply List - Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Papers: My Mind's Eye (Stella and Rose Hattie);Brads and stickers: My Mind's Eye (Stella and Rose Hattie); Letters: Basic Grey; Quotes:SRM Stickers and Kaiser Craft

• My top strips are 12 x 1/2 and I attached it to coordinating cardstock measuring 12 x 3/4.

• The large background pieces measures 12 x 7-3/4.

• Striped strips are 12 x 1/2.

• Bottom strips are 12 x 1/2 and attached to coordinating cardstock measuring 12 x 1.

• I used an A5 and three 4x6 photos and the three little photos measure 2.5 x 2.5.

You can also upload your layouts based on Allison's sketches to the Flickr gallery. The link is also in the right sidebar of the blog.

Vulnerability

2011-08-20T18:06:00.001+02:00

After writing my Rethinking post, I got a comment that said that the reader loved my vulnerability. That got me thinking....

According to Wikipedia.org, Vulnerability:

"Vulnerability refers to the susceptibility of a person, group, society or system to physical or emotional injury or attack. The term can also refer to a person who lets their guard down, leaving themselves open to censure or criticism. Vulnerability refers to a person's state of being liable to succumb to manipulation, persuasion, temptation etc."

If I read that correct, I don't think any of us ever want to feel vulnerable and open to attack. Vulnerability must instill fear of getting hurt. So what makes us put things out there and not fear attack or criticism. I found writings by Brene Brown on the web...about "The power of vulnerability."

Here are some of the key issues that she brings up about vulnerability. In many ways, I interpret her findings about vulnerability as the path toward authenticity. But how do I live this way? Well that is the challenge. Here are her necessary ingredients for the manifestation of vulnerability:

Courage: We need courage to tell the real story about ourselves, so that we might be ourselves. We also need the courage to be imperfect. I think this goes back to the concept of authenticity. We must be genuinely ourselves in how we live with ourselves and others. This sounds easy, but is incredibly difficult.

Compassion: In the face of being ourselves, we need compassion to be kind to ourselves. This movement toward ourselves enables us to be authentically kind and compassionate to other people, animals and places. If we don't like ourselves how do we like others?

Connected: The path toward authenticity enables people to be connected to others.

Vulnerability: This is necessary if we are to live authentically. We have to feel what is before us and not hide from the pain and the wonder of our connectedness in the world. Her warning is that if we numb one emotion, then we numb everything. Quite a danger, but I think we all have experienced it.

I guess I just want to be real...about the good, the bad and the ugly....and know that I am acceptable and good enough anyway.

Pinnacle Point - a week of rest

2011-08-16T13:59:00.000+02:00

First I will show you some of the photos we took while we were away. The building is the club house and the wooden walk way is the start of the St Blaize trail. I was amazed by the beautiful "fynbos", a real nature garden.

This photo was taken from the deck of the club house... the place where we had many delicious meals.

We stayed in one of these units, it has gorgeous views, but I don't think I will go there again in the winter. The buildings are built to get the most of the view...not the sun.

Picture taken from the porch.

Our mode of transport on the golf estate....a tad breezy;-)

I just realized again, what a beautiful country we live in...with huge stretches of coastline and diverse nature.

On three of the days the weather was good enough to go for long walks...along the St Blaize Trail and just walking the course.

We will be coming here again at the end of September...and I am sure that it will be more enjoyable in warmer weather.

DH played three rounds of golf on this course. It must be one of the most difficult courses to play and I do believe that many balls land up in the sea.

I love the ocean and can't imagine living away from it.

DH made me this little garland of vygies.

Thank you for your comments on my previous post. I will be exploring the possibility of going to Wordpress where you can password protect the posts that you want to. I think the thing that really freaked me out was that two weeks ago I was in a local Scrapbook shop and one of the customers came up to me and told me she knows me. It appears that she is one of the people that follow my blog and never comment. Another thing is that some of my old school friends have "found" me on Facebook and I just don't feel free to do my posting updates on Facebook anymore.

Anyhow...things I have came to realize while on holiday:

I can't scrap away from home. I packed a crate but just struggled too much. I guess I am spoiled by my organised scrap room where everything can be found in seconds.
I can happily sit and do nothing and not get bored. I read two books and watched more TV than I would normally.
Sitting around vegging will cause your waistline and bum line to expand.
I have had enough of children living with us and NEED my house back again. (but that is a post for another day)

Rethinking....

2011-08-14T09:45:00.001+02:00

...the whole blogging thing. This is post no 458 and on 18 August it will be the third anniversary of this blog.

This past week we have been on vacation in Mossel Bay. I decided to take a break from blogging, blog reading and even had my cellphone on silent and didn't look at it for four days. It was amazing, I could relax and there was NO pressure to try and keep in the loop. I had heaps of time to think...as you can imagine;-) I spent a lot of time thinking of this little slice of my world.

I have been blogging for three years here and a bit more than a year on my private blog...and again I find myself at some sort of cross road. When I started I blogged mostly about my creative side and showcased my layouts. Slowly as I got to know some other bloggers, I started blogging about my life as a wife, mother, grandmother and a growing child of God. At first I tried keeping my life and my work separate but gradually I started sharing on what we do at the mission.

Since last year many of you have followed our journey as a family as we came to terms with an inoperable condition my DS2 was diagnosed with. You followed our journey when he miraculously regained his eye sight. This is where I came and opened my heart when we had to face a divorce in the family. You picked me up, dusted me off and put me back on my feet when my DD ran away in the middle of the night. This place has become my sanctuary, my safe place where I can vent my feelings and work through my "stuff".

The thing is, it’s really not very safe at all. Maybe the biggest mistake I made in my blog journey was being open about my identity and that of my family. Am I exposing my family unnecessarily?

Now I find myself in a place where slowly my blog is mainly being used as a place to showcase my scrapbook layouts again. Suddenly I am hesitant to write about the things that matter, my thoughts and feelings, my walk of faith. Then I get an e-mail from a random reader telling me how much it meant to her to read positive thoughts or a scripture I posted....and I am even more confused. Why am I blogging? Am I blogging for me or for others?

Do I keep this blog for only my creativity?
Do I move all my thoughts and feelings blog posts to my private blog?
Are you just being polite and only read me because I read you?
Why do you read me?
Do you go through soul searching where your blog is concerned?

Please be honest, and share your feeling with me.

xx

Sketch Support August Two-Page Sketch

2011-08-09T15:29:00.002+02:00

I am taking a break at the moment. DH and I are in Mossel Bay at Pinnacle Point for a week vacation. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and once we get back home I will post photos of our time here.

I have decided that this is the ideal time to take a break from the computer as well. So I will only be posting my Design Team work this week.

It is time for the Sketch Support Two-page sketch. You can download the sketch with all the details from the side bar of the Sketch Support blog.

I love two pagers so much that I did two layouts based on this sketch. Here is the first one. The photos were taken in September 2010 from the Sea Lounge at the Beacon Isle Hotel. That is right we were arm chair whale watching;-)

Whale watching
Supply list: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed paper - Websters Pages Yacht Club; Trims - Websters Yacht Club; (sun)doily - Websters; Sun Rays - Bazzill die cuts; Felties - Sassafras Lass; Letters - Websters Yacht club; Droplets - Kaiser Scrapbook; Other - DMC cotton.

I followed the sketch closely. I replaced the vertical strips along the three photos on the right side with the red and white Websters trim.

I made a sun be using the Websters doily and some Bazzill die cuts as the sunrays.

I used a Prima swirl to get the outlines for the swirl and then did some hand sewing, adding the droplets. I cut the whale from some of the Websters printed paper.

I have had the little fish and whale felties in my stash for ages and this was the right time to use them.

The next layout I did with photos of me and two of my sisters (we are five girls) taken the day after my 50th birthday party. We had a walk down memory lane, visiting all the places where we lived and then ended up at Blue Waters for cocktails.

We share a history
Supply list: Background paper - Bo Bunny; Printed Papers - Websters Yacht Club; Trims - Websters Yacht Club; Letters - One of the older Websters Alphas.

On this layout I replaced the two waves with two different trims.

I cut the boat and the lighthouse from Websters printed paper and used it as embellishments.

I love how the lace trim looks like froth.

Chat again soon:-)

Sketch Support August Card sketch week and a WINNER

2011-08-04T12:43:00.002+02:00

I love how Allison's sketches gets you thinking outside the box. You can download and print this sketch by clicking on the card sketches link found under the "printable sketches" tab on the right sidebar of Sketch Support. I made three projects using this weeks sketch.

Wishing you every happiness card

Supply list: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed Paper - Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden; Bling -Kaiser Craft; Sentiment - Kaiser Craft; Ribbon from my stash.

With this card I stuck to the sketch. I used a square piece of printed paper for the background. I did faux stitching around my circles and the image in the center was cut from the Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden paper. I added the ribbon and bling in the scallops.

Congratulations card

Supply list: Printed Paper: Bo Bunny Unforgettable; Trims - Prima; Rub-ons - Kaiser Craft;Flowers - local craft shop; Image - downloaded from the Internet.

I printed the image onto my center circle and then added the trim to each circle before putting it together.

It was a challenge for me to use this sketch to make a one-page layout.

Delight

Supply list: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed Papers - Websters Yacht Club; Brads - Boxer;Letters - Bella Boulevard; Other - jute string and some ribbons scraps from my stash.

I cut the bottom of the paper above the picket fence and used the top part for the scalloped paper. I used the brown bazzill to form a contrast with the softer colors of the Websters papers. I added faux stitching to the outer circle and brads to the scallops.

It still looked a bit bare so I added the two kites to the sides.

I matted the photo with another piece of Bazzill and used my scallop scissors around it and then added the little white dots to the scallops.

Then onto the winner of Allison Davis one page sketch book:

Steffanie, you have until next week Wednesday 10 August to let me have your postal address, contact me on lynette.jacobs11@gmail.com

I have never thought of sending my layouts for possible publications. Our ministry is way to stressful to add to that stress with my hobby having to perform too. But I love it when my layouts gets noticed on a gallery like 2Peas;-)

Thank you for visiting;-)

The Characters that feature in my life

2011-08-03T14:14:00.001+02:00

A few of you wanted to know which of our grandchildren belong to which of my children...so I am going to show you photos that was taken on a recent photo shoot. A photo shoot that I am not entirely happy with. There is just way to many shadows on the photos taken in studio. I am pretty sure that Shayne, Hayley or Marcelle would have done a far better work with this. You will notice that my new header is a family photo. The only one missing in the picture is Bianca.

You can see the shadow falling over my face in this photo...not something that should happen in a studio shoot. I like this photo, because she did not use an action on it....it looks natural.

I met my DH when I was in my final year at school, I was 17 at the time. He was the perfect gentleman and I was instantly in love. We married a year later. You could say that we raised each other. If I could have my life over again, I WOULD DO IT AGAIN:-) I adore him and he adores me...what more can you ask?

Less than a year after our marriage our first son, Kobus, was born. He has grown into a real business man and I am very proud of him. He is also my sensitive child that doesn't easily talk and gets hurt easily. He married Lache in 2005 and Leane and Dewan was born. At the beginning of last year they separated and an ugly divorce followed. They are now again working on their relationship and we are praying that all will be well.

They are a beautiful family.

Our second son, Wynand, was born two and a half years after his brother. He was always the stubborn one but also had the ability to just crawl into everyone's heart with his endearing personality. He met Nadia, and she was his first serious relationship. At the time Nadia had a little boy and Christian instantly became our grandchild when they married in 2008 and Lukas was born later that year.

In these photos you can see how uncooperative he was during the photo shoot. He wanted ONLY his OUPA, and wanted nothing to do with posing for photos.

There is nothing more important than family...and nothing can compare with it. We are hoping to do another photo shoot when Bianca is home.

******************************************************************************

I am way behind posting my DT work...so here goes with this week's sketch from The Scrappiest. Here is the very lovely sketch by Liz Chidester...this is sketch #131.

Here is my layout based on the sketch. This photo was taken on the morning of my 50th birthday.

@50
Supply list: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed Papers - My Minds Eye Stella and Rose Gertie; Transparency and brads - My Minds Eye; Felt Embellishment - American Craft; Flowers - Prima Marri Collection; Metal Tag Holder - Tim Holtz; Letters - American Craft; Rub-on - Kaiser Scrapbook.

Sooooo Boring....

2011-07-28T10:32:00.000+02:00

...I know, that is how my blog is becoming. Way to few blogs about what really matters and way to many layout posts. Sorry...bear with me, my blog mojo has gone for a loop.

As I have told you already Wednesday afternoons and evenings are time spent with Ouma and Oupa. Then the parents can have date nights and a break from their littlies.

The decision was made early. We would be taking our four to the Spur Steak Ranch to play and have supper. Did you know that on Wednesday nights kids eat free! They usually just waste the food so for me that is a huge plus. So we piled all of them in the DH's bakkie and off we went. Christian and Leane happily sitting in the back. Dewan wants to be on my lap and Lukas wants to be any where near Oupa (where else).

On the way I tell DH....

"Jy weet hoeveel pret ons nog met hierdie goedjies gaan he soos wat hulle groter raak." (You know that we are going to have so much fun with these little ones as they grow older).

Christian pipes up. "Ja, en ek gaan altyd die grootste wees." (I will always be the oldest). He is 9 this year where the little ones are 4,3, and 2.
I answered him "Ja man, maar ek dink dit is tyd dat jy vir jou ma en pa se dat jy 'n sussie wil he." (I think it is time that you tell your parents that you want a sister).
His reply had us chuckling. "Mamma en Pappa moet saam gaan le en dan gaan hulle dokter toe om te hoor wanneer die baba kom. (The Parents must lie together and then the doctor will tell them when the baby is due.
I say to him. "Maar hulle le elke aand saam jong, wanneer kom die baba nou. (They are sleeping together every night, so when is the baby coming.)
Him - "Ek weet nie hoekom mors hulle net tyd nie." (I don't know why they are wasting so much time.)

Kids...they are so wise. Anyway they had loads of fun and everyone except Lukas finished their food. We topped and tailed them when we got back and put them in bed. That didn't work as they still wanted to play. So we split them...one in our bed, one in Wynand and Nadia's bed, and one in Lukas's bed. Christian fortunately has no problem going to bed. When we later went to bed we found Lukus and Leane curled up together in our bed. They adore each other.

The top photo was taken this morning with all of them in the bath. Today is photo day at school and I wanted to wash their hair and have them all fresh. Oupa took them to school and now I have to start my day.

Have a wonderful day.

Sketch Support July one pager and ANOTHER GIVE AWAY

2011-07-28T09:01:00.001+02:00

This week's one page sketch and full details of its use can be downloaded from the side bar over at Sketch Support. You can also see how this sketch was used by different members of the Design Team...lots of inspiration there;-)

Here is my take on the sketch:

Funny Face I love you

Supplies used: Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed papers: My Minds Eye Stella and Rose Hazel;Words: American Craft Rainboots and Making Memories Tiny Alphas, Flourish: Prima;Stickers and brads: My Minds Eye.

I love using larger photos. For me scrapping is all about the photo;-)

I cut my background pieces 3.5 x 9 and placed them 1.5 inches from the bottom. It is a girly page so I replaced the stars with a flourish and some girly stickers and brads. The sizes of my photos are 6x4 and two of 3x3.

The sketch for this week was taken of the brand new One Page Sketch book by Allison Davis:

You have a chance to win this sketch book. All you have to do is become a follower of my blog and a follower of the Sketch Support blog...then come back here and leave me a comment. The winner will be drawn on Thursday 4 August 2011.

Have a happy day!

The Scrappiest: Sketch #130: Lamb snuggles

2011-07-27T12:55:00.000+02:00

Yesterday Liz revealed Sketch#130 on The Scrappiest. I have lately found myself perpetually late posting my layouts....but here is my take on this weeks sketch.

Lamb Snuggles: Supply list: Cardstock - Bazzill; Printed Paper - My Minds Eye Stella and Rose Mabel; Journaling prompt, trim, frame and brads - My Minds Eye Stella and Rose Mabel; Felties - Basic Grey Wander; Letters - American Craft and Paper Trunk.

Here is this weeks sketch. You are welcome to make a layout based on this sketch and upload it to The Scrappiest.

Have a happy Wednesday.
xx

Hope

2011-07-26T14:44:00.001+02:00

I believe that we were all shocked with the happenings in Norway. Even when we live in a country where we hear about crime and many of us have first hand experience at being a victim of crime. No matter what the circumstances, death shakes us to the core. It seems so wrong - and it is! We long for comfort. I was watching the events unfolding and I was touched when they had their "grief and hope mass" in Oslo. It is amazing that in times of grief or uncertainty people turn to the "church" for comfort. I watched... and the thought that went through my mind was "Do they know Jesus?"...or do they just find comfort in religion...because there is a huge difference.

"Hope is more than wishing things will work out. It is resting in God who holds those things in His wise and powerful hands." ~ Paul David Tripp.

We have a Saviour who knows our sorrows, a God who hears our cries, and a promise that one day all tears will be wiped away. These reasons lead us to hope even as we grieve.

Where do you tend to look for your daily hope? Do you tend to put your hope in circumstances, people, your appearance, your possessions, or in the One True Hope that will never fail you?

Sketch Support Add-on and a WINNER

2011-07-23T16:22:00.001+02:00

Add-on Sketch #7

This is the add on sketch and it can be downloaded by going to Sketch Support and downloading it from the side bar.

Blow Out the Candles and Make a Wish
Supplies used - Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Reminisce At the Farm; Words:Basic Grey, American Crafts, Bella Boulevard and Making Memories Tiny Alphas;Gems: KaiserCraft; Other: gold pipe cleaners.

I had already done my piercing to stitch the candles but then I came across the golden pipe cleaners in my drawer and they looked very much like the candles in the photo. I faux stitched my lines and added the bling to it. I used Two-page sketch # 16 and adapted it for a single page.

Okay...now for the winner of this amazing sketch book:

The winner is:

She said:

JerseyJenn said...

What a beautiful interpretation of this sketch! I am a follower of Sketch Support and a new follower of yours! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the new book!

JerseyJenn will you please e-mail your postal address to: lynette.jacobs11@gmail.com

Protecting little ones

2011-07-22T17:08:00.000+02:00

I did a post this morning and some of you read it before I pulled it....so I feel I should clear things up.

One of these cuties where living on the streets with his mother. He is nearly four. He came to live with his grandparents a year ago, after his mother was gang raped. The first years of his life he became a scavenger...eating out of dirt bins...always hungry. This memory remained and he still stuffs himself at mealtimes, putting extra food into his pockets. He still scratches in dirt bins and picks up and eats anything that is thrown away.

On Thursday morning he told one of our creche ladies that his grandpa hurt him "there". So the red lights started flashing and I contacted the social service that specifically deal with children in crisis...they only responded today. They first spoke to the little one and had the same reaction that I had, but it was cleared up once they had an interview with the grandparents. This little one grew up without any idea of basic cleanliness and he started festering "there"...so his grandpa showed him how to keep himself clean. Because it was festering it was painful to pull it back and that is what the little boy was telling us. I am just SO relieved.

Now the question is....am I sorry that I contacted the authorities?
The answer is no....I believe that we are living in a sick society and I would rather be safe than sorry.

The truth is that the majority of the adults that are on our program were molested as children. The perpetrator was usually a relative. It ruined their lives and a lot of them fell into addictions as a result. They don't trust anyone and have a problem with anybody in authority...because those who were supposed to protect them, took advantage of them. I would do anything in my power to prevent the next generation from going through that.

So....what would you have done?